AUDIO: Update on mental health building

Click to EnlargePhoto:

Oct 16, 2013 at 9:44 am

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (KNSI) Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in April on a new $8.75 million mental health building on the St. Cloud V-A campus, and in the months since then, spokesman Barry Venable says they've made good progress on construction.

Venable says all of the foundation and utility work is finished and the roof is going on now. He says it's the contractor's goal to get the building "dried in before winter hits," and he says they're, "well on their way to doing that. "

Once finsihed, the 19,000 square foot building will provide, "much needed modern space to conduct mental health treatment programs. " And Venable says "it will alleviate to some extent a real space shortage in the mental health end of campus, and allow us to go back in and remodel a couple of existing buildings so we can actually expand to serve more patients. "

It's hoped the building will be ready for occupancy sometime next summer. It ill provide 20 additional beds and more staff to treat veterans with mental health needs.

Barry Venable with a construction update on the mental health building